How to Transfer Trace Data File from Agilent ESA to PC Using Matlab Instrument Control Toolbox

Hello,

I have a trace data file on my Agilent ESA E4405B spectrum analyzer, and I want to transfer it to my PC using MATLAB. I Have a GPIB connection established, and I am able to control the instrument using SCPI commands through Matlab's Instrument Control Toolbox. However, I cannot seem to find the SCPI command to actually transfer the file (.csv or .trc). There is no driver available in Windows 10 for the model that I have, so I need to use the SCPI commands. I would appreciate anyone's help!

[Jacob Sims]

Update: I figured out how to extract the file, I used the command :MMEMory:DATA? 'C:\file_name.CSV'

However, now what I have in Matlab is a character array, listing the attributes of the file (data#, date, serial #, etc), which I can extract to a .mat file, but what I need is the actual CSV file. Any ideas on how I can do this?

Thanks!

-Jacob

[Zheng]

I am using the same equipment with you. May I ask how long the timeout you set? My code(below) always returns an error: Timeout expired before the operation completed. I am not sure this is because the command is wrong or the timeout is too short.

data = writeread(visagpib,"MEMory:DATA? 'C:\TRACE001.CSV'")

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

[Maadhav Akula]

Hi Jacob,

I assume you are having a char array and now want to convert it into a csv file, then I think you can try the following:

a = 'data, date, serial, etc';%Sample Char Array
C = textscan(a, '%s','Delimiter',',');
writecell(C{1,1},'C.csv');

Hope this helps!